Road trips offer the chance to witness stunning scenery, stop at quirky roadside attractions, and explore at your own pace. In a recent survey, 76% of global car travelers say they prefer road trips over flying because of the spontaneity they offer. But one surefire way to ruin a trip is to run into a pothole or encounter dangerous road conditions. Before you hit the highway, take a look at the states with the best — and worst — road conditions for 2026, according to a new study from the ConsumerAffairs Research Team. 

States With the Best Roads

5. Kansas

For the second year in a row, Kansas ranks fifth for road quality among U.S. states. Known for its Civil War and Wild West history, Kansas offers plenty to do and see on a road trip, and its well-kept infrastructure will help you get you there safely. Only 10.4% of its urban roads and 2.4% of its rural roads are listed in poor condition by ConsumerAffairs.

Expect to see roaming bison and rolling hills covered in wildflowers during your drive across Kansas’ 141,000 miles of roadways. A few road trip highlights include Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve on U.S. Route 50, the Oz Museum in Wamego, and Mushroom Rock State Park, where unique rock formations resemble fungi.

4. Georgia

New to the top five states with the best roads this year, the Peach State jumped seven spots from 2025, thanks to major infrastructure improvements. Across more than 125,000 miles, just 7.5% of urban roads and 2.8% of rural roads are now in poor condition.

From Cumberland Island National Seashore and Tybee Island to Atlanta’s Georgia Aquarium and World of Coca-Cola Museum, there’s something for everyone here. One standout road trip stop is Rock City, a family-friendly park with gardens, ancient rock formations, and a lookout where, on a clear day, you can see seven states.

3. Vermont

The only New England state in the top five, Vermont boasts a small but well-maintained network of paved roads, with only 13.5% of its urban roads and 3.1% of its rural roads listed in poor condition. Vermont’s Scenic Route 100 Byway — known as “Skier’s Highway” — is among the best ways to see the state’s scenic villages and mountain ski towns by car.

That said, one major consideration for out-of-towners on road trips is avoiding unpaved roads. Despite having thousands of miles of well-kept roads, Vermont also boasts the highest ratio of dirt roads to paved roads in the country. (There are 8,534 miles of dirt roads in Vermont, compared with 7,226 miles of paved roads.) Although winter tourism is popular for snow sports, visitors should use caution as conditions can become dangerous, especially on dirt and gravel roads.

2. Minnesota

More than 90% of urban and rural roads in Minnesota are in fair or good condition, according to the ConsumerAffairs report. Additionally, there are just 0.7 traffic fatalities per 100 million miles traveled — the second-lowest rate in the country.

Known as the “Land of 10,000 Lakes” (though there are actually 11,842), this state offers plenty of epic scenery for a road trip. If urban adventure is more your speed, head to the Twin Cities for shopping at the Mall of America, a museum day, or excellent global cuisine.

1. Indiana

For the second consecutive year, the Hoosier State has the best road conditions in America. Of Indiana’s 93,608 miles of public roads, only 4.8% of urban roads and 1.6% of rural roads are in poor condition.

In the north, the scenic shores of Lake Michigan and Indiana Dunes National Park beckon road-trippers who want to take a break and stretch their legs with 50,000 miles of hiking and walking trails. But there are plenty of quirkier road trip spots, too, from the town of Santa Claus, known for its year-round holiday cheer, to Alexandria’s “World’s Largest Ball of Paint,” where visitors are invited to leave their mark.

States With the Worst Roads

5. Oklahoma

The Oklahoma public road system has taken quite a hit over the last year, going from No. 34 to No. 5 on the list of states with the worst roads, according to ConsumerAffairs research. Conditions have worsened across both urban and rural roads, with 37.5% and 24.8%, respectively, now in poor condition. According to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, state budget cuts, coupled with ongoing pavement deterioration due to weather and increasing traffic volume, are to blame for the worsening conditions.

That said, a road trip to the Sooner State is still worthwhile with some planning. Stick to the state’s 30,000 miles of highways, as they’re more likely to be maintained. Route 66, a quintessential Americana road trip route, cuts through Oklahoma and features eccentric roadside stops like the Blue Whale of Catoosa, POPS 66 Soda Ranch, and the Arcadia Round Barn.

4. Hawaii

With roughly 4,500 miles of public roads spread across six islands (Hawaii, Maui, Lanai, Molokai, Oahu, and Kauai), Hawaii boasts the smallest road network in the country. Several Hawaiian islands, including Niihau and Kahoolawe, have no public roads at all. Driving on the islands of Hawaii can be challenging, as more than half of the urban roads (51.2%) and 33.6% of rural roads are in poor condition.

While road-tripping is still one of the best ways to see the islands, it requires caution. Popular routes like Maui’s Hana Highway necessitate careful driving on narrow, curvy roads, over one-lane bridges, and through blind turns. For this reason, many travelers book tours to enjoy the scenery safely while a guide does the driving.

3. Rhode Island

The smallest U.S. state boasts some of the worst roads, according to the ConsumerAffairs data. Poor weather conditions, from floods to freezing temperatures, are mainly to blame for Rhode Island’s many potholes and deteriorating roads. Of its 6,000 miles of public roads, an estimated 60.2% of urban roads and 28.9% of rural roads — nearly 90% of all roads in the state — are in poor condition. Despite that, the state’s road safety ranks in the top 10 in the country, with 0.94 recorded traffic fatalities per 100 million miles traveled.

From the neighborhoods lined with Gilded Age mansions in Newport to the historic coastal drives of Watch Hill, a Rhode Island road trip is best enjoyed at a slow pace, with frequent stops to take in the epic ocean views and freshly caught local seafood.

2. Mississippi

For the second year in a row, the Magnolia State has the second-worst roads in the country in the ConsumerAffairs report. Mississippi’s 73,000 miles of public roads need a tune-up, with many (49.3% of urban roads and 28.2% of public roads) listed in poor condition.

However, road-trippers through this Southern state can at least enjoy friendly highways for the most part — the state ranks in the bottom three for road rage. Along the state’s two main interstates, I-55 or I-20, travelers will find a fascinating mix of blues music history, sites from the Civil Rights Movement, and Civil War history.

1. New Mexico

New Mexico has the country’s worst roads in 2026, according to ConsumerAffairs. Many of this Southwestern state’s roads are in poor condition, including 49.8% of its urban roads and 31.2% of its rural roads. And despite having dozens of active road repair projects around the state, the New Mexico Department of Transportation says funding issues are holding up additional maintenance. Moreover, the state hasn’t raised its fuel tax rates for more than 30 years, further inhibiting road repair funds.

However, there are still 77,605 miles of public roads to explore, and New Mexico is home to eight of America’s 126 Scenic Byways, all recognized for their cultural importance. There’s something to see around every turn, from the mountain views along the Santa Fe National Forest Scenic Byway to the Wild West lore of the Billy the Kid Byway. While the roads may be bumpy at times, there are plenty of road trip-worthy places in the “Land of Enchantment.”

About the data: ConsumerAffairs, a journal of consumer research, analyzed three main factors in their report: road surface roughness (in both urban and rural areas), the percentages of rural roads and urban roads classified as “poor” according to data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, and car accident fatalities per 100 million miles traveled (data from the Federal Highway Administration). You can read the full report here.